Mark Deporter and Robbie Rucks top Sportsman and Hobby Memorial Day Weekend Events

June 27, 2023
Jamie Tate
Results

Mikey Rottier
5.27.23
Jefferson Speedway Memorial Day Weekend
CAMBRIDGE- A full crowd came out to Jefferson Speedway, Saturday, to honor U.S. veterans
with an evening of racing. Robbie Rucks, Deerfield, headlined the night’s events with his second
win of the season in the Hobby Stock 40-lap feature. Rucks sits comfortably atop the Hobby
Stock division as the leader in points with 280.
Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson, took first place in the Sportsman 50-lap feature, which earned
him enough points to jump into first place in the Sportsman division. In addition to Hobby Stock
and Sportsman events, the ASA Midwest Tour Super Late Models took the track for the Salute
the Troops 100 to honor American veterans over memorial day weekend.
The Hobby Stock 40-lap feature began with a father son duel between Scott and Bud Riedner,
Waunakee. Scott led for the first portion of the race before his son Bud took the lead in lap 18.
Rucks battled for second with Riedner for a few laps before passing him in lap 32 and moving
into first in lap 34. Rucks held on to the lead position for the final 6 laps and earned his second
first place finish of the season. Matthew Thoma, Jefferson, made a strong move through the last
couple of laps to finish second behind Rucks. Scott and Bud Riedner finished third and fourth
respectively.
In the Sportsman division, Deporter won in dramatic fashion in the 50-lap feature. It was Brady
Lilly, Milton, who started with the early lead over the 17 car field, before Jason Thoma,
Jefferson, took over in lap 15. Thoma held a commanding lead through the majority of the race
until Chris Weber, West Salem, caused a caution on the track with a flat tire. As Thoma began to
regain his lead after the restart, a collision between Lilly and Kurt Kleven, Jefferson, stopped the
race and sent both cars to the back of the field. With just 4 laps to go Thoma was forced to
dropout due to his car overheating, which left the door wide open for Mark Deporter. Deporter,
who was in fourth before the collision moved into first and held onto the lead position through
the final 4 laps. Tim Coley, Sun Prairie, finished second, and Nick Bruley, a rookie from
Johnson Creek, finished third after his second place finish last weekend. Jeff Steenbergen,
Watertown, finished fourth.
In addition to his fourth place finish in the feature, Steenbergen won the first Heat for the
Sportsman division. He made a move on fellow Watertown native Jay Kalbus in the final lap to
secure the victory. Chris Jones, South Beloit, won the second Heat in the Sportsman division by
leading the last 4 laps after taking the lead from Brady Lilly.
Weber held the fastest qualifying time in the Sportsman division with a time of 14.838 seconds.

Ken Osborne, Janesville, won in the first Heat in the Hobby Stock division, along with a second
place finish in the Last Chance race. Bud Riedner won the second Heat, and Kenny Storkson,
Rockton, won the third Heat in the Hobby Stock division. Chuck Egli, Waterloo, won a tight
Last Chance race to beat out Osborne.
Tucker Bodendorfer, Msukego, set the fastest qualifier time for Hobby Stock with 15.465
seconds.
Jefferson Speedway will return to their normal racing program next Saturday, June 3, at 6 p.m.
The program will include the Late Model, Hobby Stock, Bandit, and Legend divisions.